Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a tightly regulated process, which depends on complex signaling cascades for its control. Some of the morphological hallmarks of apoptosis include cell shrinkage, condensation of chromatin, regular patterns of DNA fragmentation, and packaging of cellular contents into small, membrane-bounded vesicles.

Electron microscopy of uninfected (A) and reovirus strain T3D type 3 Dearing infected (B, C, and D) L cells murine L929 cells .

A. Uninfected cells

B. Initial condensation of chromatin

C. Margination of chromatin at the nuclear membrane

D. Complete condensation of the nucleus.

From Tyler, K. L. et al. 1995. J. Virol. 69: 6972-6979.

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